Diane Morganis known for her deadpan delivery and filtered sarcasm. She took our breath away with her impeccable timing and made a name for herself in the world of British television. Withseveral comedians relying on slapstickand rapid-fire dialogue, Morgan carved out a brand of humor that’s more subtle and awkward, but just as delightful and effective.
It’s a talent she has honed over decades in the industry, first rising to fame as the not-so-self-aware but fiercely loyal Philomena Cunk onCharlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe. It wasn’t until her scene-stealing turn as Kath in Ricky Gervais’After Life, though, that Morgan really emerged as a star. She perfectly balanced her innocence and obliviousness alongside Gervais’ brooding lead and stunned audiences endlessly.
Cunk on Life
More recently, Morgan has returned with her hilariously iconic character Philomena Cunk in te Netflix comedy filmCunk on Life. She tackles all sorts of topics and delivers the most hilarious lines in the most deadpan manner. This list is a countdown of all the TV roles that celebrate Diane Morgan’s comedic greatness.
‘Mount Pleasant’ (2011 – 2012)
Mount Pleasant
In the heart of Manchester, the vibrant neighborhood of Mount Pleasant serves as the backdrop for a refreshing and rich tapestry of characters. The show revolves around the everyday lives of the residents, with the spotlight usually shining on a 30-something Mancunian named Lisa, who is married to a plumber named Dan. They share a loving marriage but don’t leave out a chance to get into an argument.
Delightful Manchester Sitcom
Over the course of the show’s two-season run,Mount Pleasantfeatures a bunch of eccentric characters. Like Lisa’s ever-present parents, Sue and Barry, as well as her two best friends Shelley and Denise. The episodes take place invarious locations such as her workplace, the cul-de-sac she lives in, and a local pub. It’s led by Sally Lindsay and Daniel Ryan, with Bobby Ball, Bobby Ball, Adrian Bower, and more providing supporting turns. Diane Morgan shows up in the second season as a character named Talia for 12 episodes.
With her deadpan humor and sharp wit, she provides a delightful contrast to the show’s otherwise poignant moments. In a way, Morgan breathes life intoMount Pleasantand saves it from falling into the realm of tired sitcom tropes.
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6Susan Butler
‘The Work Experience’ (2012)
The Work Experiencestays true to its title with its premise. A mockumentary style comedy series that combines elements of reality TV and prank shows, it takes viewers inside the chaotic world of a fashion PR agency and follows two ambitious interns. Their managers and colleagues give them tasks and throw tantrums without ever letting up the fact that the entire agency is fictional and all the employees are actors.
Short-Lived but Iconic Sitcom
The show, despite being refreshing and hilarious, only lasted one season (six episodes), with each episode featuring a new set of interns at Grade PR. Morgan plays Susan Butler, the long-suffering personal assistant to the highly demanding and often irrational boss, Joanna Grade. She tries to keep her cool while taking responsibility for every misadventure at the office. She also has an ailing mother to look after.
From disastrously trying to impress her boss to stumbling her way through interactions with interns, she turns Susan into a source of hilarity and leaves a lasting impression. She’s both endearing and cringe at the same time, but memorable nonetheless.
‘Rovers’ (2016)
Co-written and created by Joe Wilkinson,Roversis a British comedy series set in the social club of a struggling non-league football team, Redbridge Rovers. The entire show takes place at the club and revolves around the quirky members and their interactions with one another. Doreen is the club’s matriarchal barmaid, Pete “Mete Pott” Mott is the club’s most overenthusiastic member, and he has a friend named Tel whose boyfriend is called Mel.
Balances the Funny With the Dramatic
Roversis an unconventional comedy because of its setting but it manages to mine gold in the strangest ways. The chaotic atmosphere complements the humorous characters, one of which is Diane Morgan’s Mandy. She’s a local woman from the Midlands of England and the club’s resident vamp. She’s known for her unpredictable behavior and her knack for getting into amusing situations. Morgan brings the best out of Pete and Tel and adds to the show’s appeal. Rovers was well-received for itsauthentic portrayal of a local football cluband its humor, but had a short lifespan.
‘Pat & Cabbage’ (2013)
NBC blessed us withThe Golden Girlsand Netflix gave usGrace and Frankie, but within the British sitcom industry, it’sPat & Cabbagethat offers a light-hearted take on aging and independence. It follows the lives of two recently single women who refuse to age gracefully. Their children are exasperated by their antics but Pat and Cabbage embrace their freedom with open arms and full hearts.
Filled With Entertaining Characters
From the generational shifts to the family dynamics,Pat & Cabbageexplores every humorous aspect of its premise in six episodes. It is written by Amy Shindler and Beth Chalmers and stars Barbara Flynn and Cherie Lunghi in the lead roles. The supporting cast includes Rosie Cavaliero, who plays Pat’s oldest daughter, and Marcus Garvey, her son-in-law. Tom Turner stars as Dylan, Cabbage’s only son who she’s extremely proud of.
As for Morgan, she plays Nicola, Pat’s career-driven young daughter. Nicola’s interactions with her mother over her career and her playful teasing of Cabbage’s son Dylan bring out the comedic elements of the series. Her overall outlook on life is practical, and it makes the show better.
‘Frayed’ (2019 – 2021)
Written and created by Sarah Kendall,Frayedis a comedy-drama series that stars Kendall as a wealthy London housewife named Samantha “Sammy” Cooper, who is forced to pack her bags and take her two teenage children, Lenny and Tess, back to her home in Australia to live with her mother after her husband disgraces the family and dies.Trying to rebuild her life, Sammy has to deal with her former boyfriend, his girlfriend, her politician boss, and other quirky residents of the town.
An Underrated and Unconventional Dramedy
Frayedran for two seasons, with the first mainly centered around Sammy reconnecting with her family and her roots (however reluctantly), and the second saw her returning to London for a brief period of time to recover her home and deal with a lawyer. Kendall, obviously, is brilliant in the lead role, tackling every disastrous turn of events with her ruthless and matter-of-fact approach.
The stellar cast delivers an outstanding turn in their respective roles, with Morgan playing Fiona, the secretary to Sammy’s boss, Chris. She often collaborates with Sammy and has a bigger role in Season 2, where she becomes the love interest to a detective sergeant named Darren Fairbank. The show features a mix of comedy and heartfelt moments, which makes it a standout.
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‘After Life’ (2019 – 2022)
After Life
After Lifeis Ricky Gervais’ darkly comedic take on life and death. Hewrote, created, executive produced, and starred in the show as Tony Johnson, a newspaper writer in the town of Tambury, who finds his life forever changed after he loses his wife. Unable to deal with the grief, he decides to punish the world by saying and doing whatever he wants. Along the way, he grows to care about certain people and tries to be less awful to them.
Quirky and Sentimental
Over the course ofAfter Life’sthree-season run, the series jumped around in all directions, constantly providing laughter and heartbreak. Gervias is excellent as the main character; he crafts a banal and soul-crushing pity party we’re all delighted and grateful to be a heart of. To balance out the heavier themes of depression, the show features a bunch of endearing characters. One of them is Diane Morgan’s Kath, the Gazette’s advert manager and one of the people Tony interacts with in almost every episode. She’s a blunt and no-nonsense woman who infuses the show with a unique flavor.
1Philomena Cunk
‘Cunk on Britain,’ ‘Cunk on Earth’ (2018, 2022)
Cunk on Britain
Philomena Cunk, a character that originated onCharlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, is portrayed by Diane Morgan across several TV shows. An endearing clueless investigative reporter, she takes on the task of exploring the history and culture of Britain, and Earth, collectively. InCunk on Britain, she delves into the country’s history, from the Stone Age to modern times. The follow-up series,Cunk on Earth, sees Philomena traveling the globe and interviewing experts on various topics like agriculture, the Industrial Revolution, and religion.
Morgan Transitions Into a Full-Fledged Comedy Icon
In both shows, Morgan uses her character’s trademark deadpan humor and complete lack of understanding to mine laughs. She maintains her blissfully ignorant persona and asks outrageously funny questions in her subtle attempt to break the person she’s interviewing.
Philomena Cunk also lacks self-awareness and totally disregards known facts, which produces some of the most hilarious moments on TV. The shows, created by Charlie Brooker, are a blend ofhigh production value, unique and absurd dialogue, as well as Cunk’s unfiltered sincerity. Overall, Morgan’s character is the most beloved and unforgettable one.
